Folding top extension table



Julie 5, 1951 1 w, QUNGMAN 2,555,957

FOLDING TOP EXTENSION TABLE Filed Oct. 4,. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elva/12%? PVZlZZ'am HClz'qgma/z June 5, 1951 I w. H. CLINGMAN 2,555,957

FOLDINGv TOP EXTENSION TABLE" V Filed Oct. 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 5,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TOP EXTENSION TABLE William H. Clingman, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor to The Weiman (Jompany, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 4, 1950, Serial No. 188,455

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a foldable and extensible cocktail or coffee table, which, in its folded or closed form, is of half-round or half-moon shape, and takes up very little room, and serves as a more or less ornamental table adapted'for use in a grouping of furniture but in its unfolded or extended form provides a sizable table having definite utility.

The principal object of my invention is to provide atable of the kind mentioned, in which an under-carriage is extensible from the middle of the closed table and contains a drawer, in which can be stored the center disk that is placed in the central opening formed when the hinged section of the top is unfolded into coplanar relationship with the fixed section of the top, the extended under-carriage, of course, serving to support the unfolded top section.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are a plan View and front view, respectively, of a cocktail table made in accordance with my invention and shown in the folded or closed form, Fig. 1 including a dotted line showing of the under-carriage in its extended position, in which it is adapted to support the unfolded top section that is likewise indicated in dotted lines in its unfolded position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of Fig. 2, showing full line retracted and dotted line extended positions of the under-carriage, with a view to better illustration of the construction and mode of operation, and

Fig.4 is a plan view of the center disk.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates the half-round or half-moon shaped fixed section of the table top, having a semicircular cut-out 6 at the center of the straight edge thereof, and 1 is the companion hinged section of the table top, in which there is a matching semicircular cut-out 8 at the center. The top sections 5 and l are connected by hinges 9, which are so designed as to lie nearly flush with the edges of the two sections when the top is folded and be concealed when the top is unfolded. A circular center disk In (Fig. 4), which will preferably have a leather top to match or make a suitable contrast with respect to the leather top, or other finish, on the table top sections, has a radially projecting rim portion H adapted to overlie the edges of the circular opening formed by the cut-outs 6 and 8 when the table top is unfolded and is made to flt neatly in said opening. A drawer [2, which is formed in the top frame of an extensible undercarriage I3, is large enough to accommodate the center disk ID, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which said undercarriage is shown in an extended position for support of the, hinged top section I in the unfolded position thereof, indicated in dotted lines. The undercarriage 13 has supporting legs I4 and I5 equipped with casters [6, and the top frame thereof is slidable in guides I'I provided in the top frame of the fixed undercarriage l8 for the fixed table top section 5. The

undercarriage I8 has supporting legs l922, all

equipped with casters IS the same as provided on legs 14 and l5.

In operation, the present table when folded appears as shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of half-round or half-moon shape, and is quite neat and attractive and well adapted for use in various groupings of furniture. When equipped with short legs, it will serve as a cocktail table, and when equipped with medium length legs, as a coifee or tea table, and when equipped with full length legs, as a hunt or game table, the diameter of the top being the same for the cocktail and coffee tables but being usually somewhat larger for game tables. When the table is to be unfolded to circular form, the undercarriage I3 is first pulled out to the dotted line position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and then the center disk It] is removed from the drawer I2 and is inserted in the central opening formed by the cut-outs 6 and 8 when the leaf 1 is unfolded to rest on the undercarriage I3. The drawer 12 may, of course, be used for storage of various articles in addition to the center disk I0, ample space being left around the disk in the drawer, as clearly appears in Fig, l. The semicircular form of the drawer front '23, struck on an arc of slightly larger radius but concentric with the arcs defining the cut-outs 6 and 8, adds a great deal to the appearance of the table in its folded form, when the undercarriage I3 is in its fully retracted position.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A foldable and extensible table, comprising hingedly connected table top sections having registering cut-out portions in the middle of the hinged edge portions which together define a substantially central opening in the top when the sections are in unfolded coplanar relationship, ,a main undercarriage in fixed supporting relationship to one of said top sections and including a top frame in which parallel guides are provided located adjacent opposite sides of the cut-out portion of the fixed top section, an extensible undercarriage including a top frame portion providing a storage area slidable in said guides and extensible from a retracted position in relation to the main undercarriage, said top frame portion in the extended position serving to support the other of said top sections in its unfolded position, and an insertable filler piece for said central opening when the top sections are unfolded.

2. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top frame of the extensible undercarriage in the retracted position lies substantially flush with the front of the main undercarriage, and wherein the registering cut-out portions in the top sections are substantially semicircular in form and the front of the top frame portion of the extensible undercarriage is also of substantially semicircular form and arranged to lie substan tially in register with and below said cut-out portions when the extensible undercarriage is in retracted position.

'3. Affoldable and extensible table, comprising 'hingedly connected semicircular table top sections having registering semicircular cut-out portions in the middle of the hinged edge portions which together define a substantially circular central opening in the top when the sections are in unfolded coplanar relationship, a

main undercarriage in fixed supporting rela tionship to one of said top sections and including a top frame in which parallel guides are provided located adjacent opposite sides of the cutout portion of the'fixed top section, an extensible undercarriage having a top frame portion slidable in said guides from a retracted position relative to the main undercarriage to an extended position for support of'the other of said top sections in its unfolded position, the top frame of the extensible undercarriage having a front piece which is of substantially semicircular form and arranged to lie substantially in register with and below said cut-out portions of the folded top section when the extensible undercarriage is in retracted position.

WILLIAM H. CLINGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 20 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

